Buddy Cianci making post-prison bid for Providence mayor

The twice-convicted felon is running for a seventh term as mayor. | Getty

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 6/25/14 4:05 PM EDT

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Buddy Cianci, the twice-convicted felon who led Providence as mayor for 21 years, wants his old job back.

Cianci said Wednesday that he is running for a seventh term as mayor. The last time he won an election was 16 years ago — before he was convicted in 2002 of racketeering conspiracy for widespread corruption in his administration. He spent 4 ½ years in prison.

Under his watch, the city transformed from a down-at-the-heels urban center with a dwindling downtown to an arts and culture hub. He often boasts that he literally moved rivers to improve the downtown.

Supporters had urged him to run to bring his vision and attitude back to City Hall, but many residents feared a run by a man who was driven from office twice by felony convictions would embarrass the city.

Cianci mounted his first campaign in 1974 and never lost an election. But he was forced to resign in 1984, after he was convicted of using a fireplace log and lit cigarette to assault a man he believed was having an affair with his estranged wife. Six years after that conviction, in 1990, he ran for mayor again and won.

His second stint as mayor, known around town as Buddy II, came to an end in 2002 when he was convicted as part of a federal investigation into corruption in City Hall, called Operation Plunderdome by the FBI. Several other members of his administration were also convicted.

The city's demographics have changed since Cianci last won election. Its Hispanic population grew nearly one-third between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Hispanics represented 38 percent of the population in 2010.

A crowded field of candidates is vying to replace one-term Mayor Angel Taveras, who is mounting a run for governor.

The city usually votes heavily Democratic. Democrats running include Democratic City Councilman Michael Solomon, Democratic operative Brett Smiley and law professor and former judge Jorge Elorza. Republican Dan Harrop is also running.